2009 FORD FLEX Owners Manual

3. To return the seatback to the
floor from tumbled position, rotate
the seat down until you hear it
latching to the floor.
4. To return the seatback to the
upright position
•Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle, and
•Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the
upright position.
Note:The seatback will not raise if
the rear latch hooks are not
properly engaged to the floor
striker. If the seatback does not raise, then repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. Pull the head restraint back up to its normal adjusted position.
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original
position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original
position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An
unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
2nd row power fold and tumble seat (six-passenger vehicles only)
WARNING:Ensure that the seat is unoccupied when folding it
down. Folding the seat while occupied could result in occupant
injury or damage to the seat.
Note:The power feature is not operational when the vehicle is not in
park and the liftgate has been open for greater than ten minutes.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
161

Press the control located at the
back of the rear door opening one
time to fold the seat back down and
tumble the seat forward for access
to the 3rd row.
Exiting the third row seat
1. Stow the head restraint by pushing the head restraint release button
while sliding the head restraint fully down.
2. Pull on the strap located on the
back of the second row seat. This
will fold the seatback forward. Pull
the strap a second time to tumble
the seat forward, allowing easy exit
from the 3rd row seat.
3. To return the seatback to the
floor from tumbled position, rotate
the seat down until you hear it
latching to the floor.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
162

4. To return the seatback to the
upright position
•Lift the seatback toward the rear
of the vehicle, and
•Rotate the seatback until you
hear a click, locking it in the
upright position.
Note:The seatback will not raise if
the rear latch hooks are not
properly engaged to the floor
striker. If the seatback does not raise, then repeat steps 3 and 4.
5. Pull the head restraint back up to its normal adjusted position.
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original
position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original
position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An
unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
Ensure that the rear latch hooks are
properly engaged with the floor
striker.
Note: Ensure that the seat and
seatback are latched securely in
position. Keep floor area free of
objects that would prevent proper
seat engagement.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
163

WARNING:Do not adjust or release the seat floor latch while
vehicle is in motion. Do not operate the vehicle with seats in
tumbled position. Always latch the vehicle seat to the floor, whether
the seat is occupied or empty. If not latched or if the seat is tumbled,
the seat may cause injury during a sudden stop.
Second row heated seats (if equipped)
WARNING:Persons who are unable to feel pain to the skin
because of advanced age, chronic illness, diabetes, spinal cord
injury, medication, alcohol use, exhaustion, or other physical
conditions, must exercise care when using the seat heater. The seat
heater may cause burns even at low temperatures, especially if used
for long periods of time. Do not place anything on the seat that
insulates against heat, such as a blanket or cushion, because this may
cause the seat heater to overheat. Do not puncture the seat with pins,
needles, or other pointed objects because this may damage the heating
element which may cause the seat heater to overheat. An overheated
seat may cause serious personal injury.
Note:Do not do the following:
•Place heavy objects on the seat
•Operate the seat heater if water or any other liquid is spilled on the
seat. Allow the seat to dry thoroughly.
To operate the heated seats:
•Push the control located on the
rear of the floor console once to
activate high heat.
•Push twice to activate low heat.
•Push a third time to deactivate.
The indicator light on the control will illuminate when activated. For low
heat, one light will be lit; for high heat, both lights will be lit.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
164

Stowing the third row seat
1. Remove all objects from the seat
and stowage tub.
2. Stow the head restraints by
pushing the head restraint release
button while sliding the head
restraints fully down.
3. From the rear of the vehicle, fold seatback by pulling and holding the
number 1 strap while pushing the seatback forward. Release strap once
seatback starts rotating forward.
4. Release the cushion latches by pulling the number 2 strap while
pulling on the strap located at the top of the seatback to tumble the seat
all the way into the tub in the floor.
Note:Do not use the seat anchors as cargo tie downs.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
165

Note:Do not use the third row
seatback as a load floor when the
seatback is folded.
Note:In order to allow the seat to latch in the stowed position, do not
stow objects under the seat before stowing.
Unstowing the third row seat
Note:Ensure that there are no objects such as books, purses or brief
cases on the load floor before unstowing the seat. Failure to remove all
objects from the top of the load floor prior to unstowing it may cause
damage to the seat.
Note:Ensure the area under the load floor is free of objects before
unstowing it.
1. Unlatch and lift the seat out of the tub in the floor by squeezing and
pulling up on the handle. Once the seat is at a vertical position, push the
seat over, letting it fall onto the latches.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
166

2. To return the seatback to upright
position, pull the number 1 strap,
then while holding the number 1
strap, pull the long strap located on
the seatback to raise the seatback.
3. Pull the head restraints up to
their normal adjusted positions.
WARNING:Ensure seat is latched to vehicle floor by
pushing/pulling on seat. If not latched, the seat may cause injury
during a sudden stop.
WARNING:Before returning the seatback to its original
position, make sure that cargo or any objects are not trapped
behind the seatback. After returning the seatback to its original
position, pull on the seatback to ensure that it has fully latched. An
unlatched seat may become dangerous in the event of a sudden stop or
collision.
WARNING:The third row
seat is NOT designed to be
used when rotated backwards.
Placing the seat in this position
could result in damage to the seat
and surrounding components, or
personal injury if the seat
suddenly tips back to the forward
position during use.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
167

WARNING:Do not drive the vehicle when the third row seat is
rotated backwards. During a sudden stop, the safety belts are
not functional in this position, and during a sudden stop, the third row
seat can rapidly tip back to the forward position, all of which may
result in serious injury.
SAFETY RESTRAINTS
Personal Safety System™
The Personal Safety System™ provides an improved overall level of
frontal crash protection to front seat occupants and is designed to help
further reduce the risk of airbag-related injuries. The system is able to
analyze different occupant conditions and crash severity before activating
the appropriate safety devices to help better protect a range of
occupants in a variety of frontal crash situations.
Your vehicle’s Personal Safety System™ consists of:
•Driver and passenger dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints.
•Front outboard safety belts with pretensioners, energy management
retractors (first row only), and safety belt usage sensors.
•Driver’s seat position sensor.
•Front passenger sensing system
•“Passenger airbag off” or “pass airbag off” indicator lamp
•Front crash severity sensor.
•Restraints Control Module (RCM) with impact and safing sensors.
•Restraint system warning light and back-up tone.
•The electrical wiring for the airbags, crash sensor(s), safety belt
pretensioners, front safety belt usage sensors, driver seat position
sensor, front passenger sensing system, and indicator lights.
How does the Personal Safety System™ work?
The Personal Safety System™ can adapt the deployment strategy of your
vehicle’s safety devices according to crash severity and occupant
conditions. A collection of crash and occupant sensors provides
information to the Restraints Control Module (RCM). During a crash, the
RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and/or either one or both
stages of the dual-stage airbag supplemental restraints based on crash
severity and occupant conditions.
2009 Flex(471)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Seating and Safety Restraints
168